Hurray for Barronelle Stutzman, the florist of 37 years in Washington state!! I applaud her for taking a stand for what she believes. Barronelle refused to provide the arrangements for the wedding of a male gay couple (Roger Ingersoll and Curt Freed) who then promptly sued to have her shut down. A Benton County Superior Court Judge had ruled that her decision was a violation of the Law. Afterwards, a bone was thrown to her by the States Attorney Generals office in the hopes of making this go away, asking her to pay a $2000.00 fine, a $1.00 fee for services, and a vow to never discriminate again. Her reply in writing to Bob Ferguson (AG) was as follows:

(Photo: Alliance Defending Freedom)

“You are asking me to walk in the way of a well-known betrayer, one who
sold something of infinite worth for 30 pieces of silver. That is something I will not do.”

Again, HURRAY for Barronelle! She is setting the example--forging the path--for other Christians to show the world that they truly believe in Christ and take His word, the Bible, seriously.

Salt is painful to the wounds that sin exposes. (Tweet this) Jesus said of the church, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men, (Matthew 5:13) Barronelle is doing her part to make sure the Salt preserves her Christian heritage and is not thrown out as useless. I am asking praying believers everywhere to lift up prayers to the Lord in her behalf.

This is what it is going to take to fight against the powers of darkness seeking to take out any and all believers who stand in their way. At current, it is ok in America to hold our worship in private and express our beliefs inside the church walls, as long as we keep them to ourselves. Christians know that we are called to share our faith--not force conversions--but to live out and speak for what we believe to all people. It is just as much our constitutional right as that of the unbeliever to speak his. But we do not just live to tell the gospel without reason. Jesus came to "seek and save that which was lost," (Luke 19:10). Christians are the emissaries of God--the ambassadors for Christ. (Tweet this) We know that it is very important that God's message of salvation be taken to all people with the hope that some will respond and gain eternity in heaven.

But it is not just heaven where rest will be found. God's peace and His overwhelming joy and blessing can also be had on earth--even if pale in comparison to heaven. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full," (John 15:11) And, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world," (John 16:33).

Certainly, all same sex individuals have the right to live in rebellion but what they do not have the right to do is force their rebellion on the church. The church does not force herself on anyone. Worship and acceptance of the Lord Jesus is purely volitional and can never be forced.

Jesus once said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me," (Luke 9:23). If more Christians knew the Bible and would take their relationship to God to mean more than an afterthought or a necessary evil (Tweet this) there would be more like Barronelle Stutzman in the world; thus more people enjoying the overwhelming blessing of eternal reward. Again I say HURRAY for standing. I salute you Barronelle. Thank you for making me and many others examine our relationship to God more closely.

The Sifted Generation is a resource to help believers understand the seriousness of what is confronting us. It also gives loving counsel on how to face the coming onslaught and reveals why our generation is witnessing the alarming rise of darkness. The world is choosing its sides and the stage is being set for soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ!